Looks like a former US national teamer just got a big assist from a current Canadian national teamer.
With Hammarby winless in six games, the Swedish side needed something to help bring a change. Enter Canadian midfielder Nik Ledgerwood (above).
Head coach and former US international Gregg Berhalter gave Ledgerwood his first start this past Saturday after signing the Canadian a few weeks ago. And while Ledgerwood didn’t score a goal, he did put in a complete performance in helping Hammarby pick up their first win in seven games with a 1-0 result over Umea.
Hammarby now sit in sixth place in the Swedish Superettan, the country’s second division.
Over in Norway, goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld and Vålerenga are in eighth place after losing 4-2 to fourth-place Haugesund. Vålerenga are now eight points back of third place and a Europa League berth.
Down a division, it seems a chance for TFC defender Chris Pozniak is resulting in him finally getting some playing time. After getting just 61 minutes of action with Haugesund in the Norwegian Eliteserien, Pozniak was loaned one league down to 1. Division side Bryne. He was immediately inserted into the lineup as Bryne beat Notodden 2-1 on Sunday.
In Finland, Canadians featured prominently in both the top-flight Veikkausliiga and one league down in the Kakkonen.
Mason Trafford’sMariehamn could only manage a 1-1 tie with TPS. They’re still in third place but have lost touch a bit with leaders Inter Turku. They’re now four points back of first place.
At the other end of the table, forward Frank Jonke’s Jaro are still battling for their Veikkausliiga lives. Jonke played on Sunday but couldn’t score in their 3-0 loss to JJK to remain in second-to-last place but, for the moment, still out of the relegation zone.
Earlier in the weekend, Riley O’Neill’sMyPa got their first win in six games with a 3-1 win over Lahti. Just a few weeks ago, MyPa were still playing in the Europa League, but it’s highly unlikely a return trip is in order as they are chasing third place. MyPa sits on 20 points — good enough for seventh in the league.
Down in the Kakkonen, Massimo Mirabelli got his fifth goal of the season as his team EIF beat Klubi-04 last Wednesday. Mirabelli had come off the bench in the 79th minute and scored the team’s fifth goal late in second-half stoppage time.
Mirabelli also started and played 71 minutes in EIF’s 5-0 demolition of LOPA on Sunday.
Also in the Kakkonen last week, Kennedy Owusu-Ansah played the full 90 minutes on Saturday as SalPa got by Pallohonka 2-1.
The Canadian pair playing in Singapore had a mixed week as both Jordan Webb and Sherif El-Masri’s respective clubs were in League Cup action.
El-Masri’s Courts Young Lions team advanced to the Plate finals with a 2-1 win over Tajong Pagar. The plate final is a consolation round much like in many rugby tournaments.
Webb’s Hougang United dropped both their group stage games last week. On Wednesday they lost 2-0 to Home United and then on Saturday they lost 1-0 to Armed Forces.
